Container



Dec. 3 1, 1935. VJ HOTHERSALL 2,025,747

CONTAINER Filed May 25, 1934 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Application May 25, 1934, Serial N0. 727,564

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to liquid containers or cans and has particular reference to a simple pouring nozzle construction for the same which insures free flowing action during pouring and which also provides a non-drip element to sharply cut-off the stream of liquid at the end of the pouring act and to prevent dripping or smearing of the liquid contents on the can parts.

An object of the invention is the provision of a one piece nozzle having a cut-away part which provides a pouring lip in the nozzle and which combines a free flowing action for pouring with a non-drip cut-off action following such pouring.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a nozzle can of the character described which may be positively closed for shipping and which after opening may be temporarily closed and repeatedly opened and closed while the contents are being dispensed.

3 Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective nozzle for a rectangular can for liquids which insures a proper discharge of the liquid contents over the corner of the can when the latter is turned into pouring .5 position while providing for a non-drip and sharp cut-01f action on the liquid'stream when the can is turned back following the pouring operation.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

' Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of a nozzle container embodying the present invention, this view illustrating the container nozzle fully sealed for shipment;

40 Fig. 2 is an exploded or' composite perspective view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1 showing these parts separated and in alignment to better illustrate their construction;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view takenthrough the 15 sealed nozzle and closure and shown on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the top of the can illustrating a discharge opening formed therein.

.30 The container illustrated in the drawing as one embodiment of the present invention comprises a rectangular can body l I having a top l2 secured thereto in liquid-tight engagement as by a seam I3. A discharge opening I4 is formed in 05 the top adjacent one corner and this opening is surrounded by an upstanding flange l5 of the can top wall which merges into an inclined annular section is of the top to provide a channelll.

The can is provided with a pouring nozzle 2 i. This nozzle comprises an inner cylindrical wall 22 5 which merges at its upper end into a top annular wall 23, the outer part of which is bent into a depending cylindrical skirt 24. The nozzle wall 22 may be slightly tapered as illustrated in Fig. 3 and its lower edge is adapted to be united to the 10 can top in position surrounding the upstanding flange l5. The channel I! may be filled with a sealing material such as solder 25 to-hermetically join the nozzle and the can top in the'usual manner. if)

The skirt 26 of the nozzle is cut away at 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) and this leaves a raw pouring edge or lip 28 formed in the periphery of the annular wall 23. In decanting liquid from the can through the nozzle the liquid in flowing over the annular nozzle wall 23 and out over the pouring lip 28 discharges from the can in a clear-cut definite stream and when the can is tilted back intoupright position this pouring lip 28 acts to cut off the stream and prevent dripping of the remaining liquid. Instead of smearing over the sides of the nozzle and the can top, therefore, this liquid drains back through the nozzle and into the can.

When a rectangular can, as illustrated, is used with a nozzle of this type it is desirable that the 30 discharging stream of liquid issuing from the nozzle pass over the corner of the can. The cutaway part 21 of the nozzle skirt 24 is preferably located adjacent the corner of the can so that this condition is obtained.

To assist in more exactly locating the nozzle its wall 22 is flattened at 3! to provide a locating element for the nozzle and the upstanding flange l 5 of the can top 12 is formed with a locating flat side 32. The corresponding locating sections 3|, 4O 32 of nozzle and top need only be brought together to bring the cut-away part 21 of the nozzle skirt in the desired position adjacent the corner of the can.

With a can having a nozzle of this construction it is merely necessary to lift the can and tilt it in order to cause its liquid contents to flow from the nozzle. To assist in this lifting action the. can may be provided with a handle 33 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

To further strengthen the depending and cut away skirt 2 of the nozzle the terminal edge of the skirt is curled as at 34. This strengthens the nozzle and furthermore makes the skirt portion rigid forla purpose which will now be described. v-

The nozzle 2| is adapted to be closed by a removable cap 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) and this cap is adapted to fit over the top of the nozzle. Cap 35 is formed with a cylindrical flange wall 36 which cooperates with and externally engages the skirt Wall of the nozzle when the cap is applied in closing position. Provision is made for temporarily locking the cap to the nozzle and for this purpose the cap fiange 36 is formed with interrupted threads 31 and the nozzle skirt 24 is formed with cooperating interrupted threads 38.

The cap 35 may also carry a gasket member which in the form shown comprises a disc 4| of felt, cork or other suitable material. This disc as shown in the drawing, may also be faced with a liner 42 of foil or other suitable material.

When the cap 35 is placed on the nozzle 2| the liner 42 of the gasket seats against the annular wall 23 of the nozzle and the capflange 36 extends outside of and adjacent to the nozzle skirt 24. Slight rotation of the cap on the nozzle causes the cooperating threads 31, 38 to interengage and to draw the cap down into a tight closing position on the nozzle.

This cap has two purposes, first by being tightly held on the can as will be further explained it forms a complete seal and after its initial opening it becomes a temporary reclosure for use by the ultimate consumer of the contents of the can. In this latter use it may be taken off or applied during repeated dispensing of the can contents. To assist in the turning of the cap for threaded engagement, the upper part of the cap flange 36 may be knurled as at 43.

For shipping purposes it is desirable that the can be more permanently closed than by the reclosure cap member 35 alone. There is then pro- .vided a retaining band 45 for use with the cap and this band is applied over the cap. Band 45 is formed with a flange wall 46 the lower edge of which is adapted to be crimped under the curled edge 34 of the nozzle skirt in a series of puckered sections 41 (Fig. 1). When applied as illustrated in Fig. 1 .the cap 35 is held for closed sealing position and is prevented from turning back to disengage the threaded connection with the nozzle. It is in this form that the can is shipped and received by the ultimate consumer.

Provision is made for easy opening of the can when so received. For this purpose the retaining band 45 is partially cut away at its top so that there is left a finger tab 48 which is connected with the flange of the hand in a tongue 49. In some embodiments the finger tab 48 may be further temporarily joined with the opposite side of the retaining band in a breakable strip section 5 l The corner of the retaining band at the base of the tongue 49 may also be weakened by score lines 52 so that when the retaining band is to be removed for opening of the can the strip 5| is ruptured, the tab 48 is lifted from its position and the metal at the base of the tongue 49 is then torn across the lines of tear joining with the score lines 52. The tearing action is continued until the entire flange 46 of the retaining band is broken through. The band is then easily removed from its sealing position which action frees the cap 35 so that it may be turned back and released from its holding position on the nozzle.

By removal of the cap 35 the can is in condition for pouring and a. mere tilting of the can into pouring position causes the liquid contents to flow through the nozzle and out over the pouring lip 28 as previously described. It will be observed that this construction of nozzlc 1 E 0 add a parts to the nozzle but does provide a non-drip element as well as a stream directing part for the pouring operation.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts with out departing from the spirit and scope of the intvention or sacrificing all of its material advan tages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A liquid container having a body and a nozzle secured to said body, said nozzle comprising an inner cylindrical wall, a top annular wall and a depending skirt, the latter being cut away on one side to leave an exposed section of said annular wall as a pouring lip and to provide a nondrip cut-off for liquids poured through said nozzle.

2. A liquid container having a body, a nozzle secured to said body, said nozzle comprising an inner cylindrical wall, a top annular wall and an integral depending skirt of uniform curvature 13 throughout, said skirt being cut away on one side to leave an exposed edge of said annular wall as a pouring lip and to provide a non-drip cut-off for liquids poured through said nozzle, and a removable cap for closing said nozzle.

3. A liquid container having a body, a nozzle secured to said body, said nozzle'having an inner cylindrical wall, a top annular wall and a depending skirt of uniform curvature provided with threaded sections, the said skirt being cut away on one side to leave an exposed edge section of said annular wall as a pouring lip and to provide a non-drip cut-off for liquids poured out of said nozzle, and a removable cap for closing said nozzle, said cap having thread sections which cooperate with the thread sections of said nozzle skirt for holding the cap in closing position.

4. A liquid container having a body, a nozzle secured to said body said nozzle being formed with an inner tapered wall, a top annular wall and a depending skirt of uniform curvature, the latter being cut away on one side to leave an exposed edge of the said annular wall as a pouring lip to provide a directing pouring surface and a nondrip cut-off, a removable cap for closing said nozzle, and a retaining band having a portion engageable beneath said skirt for locking said cap in its closing position on said nozzle.

5. A liquid container having a body, a nozzle secured to said body, said nozzle being formed with an inner tapered wall, a top annular wall and a depending skirt of uniform curvature throughout, said skirt being cut away on one side to leave an exposed edge of said annular wall as a pouring lip, a removable cap for closing said nozzle and having threaded engagement therewith, a gasket carried in said cap and engaging on said annular nozzle wall when in closing position, a retaining band for locking said cap in said closing position, .said band having engagement beneath said nozzle skirt to maintain the band againstaxial movement relative to the nozzle, said retaining band being rupturable to release the said cap to condition the nozzle for pouring.

7O 6. A liquid container comprising a rectangular opening, said nozzle comprising an inner cylindrical wall, a top annular wall and a depending skirt of uniform curvature, the latter being cut away on one side to provide an exposed edge pouring lip, said cylindrical wall having a fiat locating side which is aligned with the said flat edge in locating the said nozzle pouring lip over the corner of said can so that dispensing of the liquid contents through the nozzle insures flowing of the liquid over the corner of said can and by way of the said pouring lip.

' JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

